Trouble sleeping? Typically, people who exercise and stay away from computer screens sleep better at night. Anahad O’Connor writes for the New York Times that recent studies show that how well you sleep could turn on what you eat.
Research reveals that unhealthy eating habits–such as eating a lot of sugary foods, saturated fats and processed foods–might mean poor sleep. Not surprisingly, healthy eating habits–such as eating fish, plants, fiber and foods that have lots of unsaturated fat–can help to promote a good night’s sleep.
The research is based on observational studies, which can never show causal effects. But, these studies can find relationships between diet and sleep. Some research involves asking people to eat particular foods and then measuring their sleep as compared to other people who do not eat those foods.
Many of these studies cannot be trusted. For example, a banana company might fund a study on the value of bananas, much like Medicare Advantage plans might fund a study on the value of Medicare Advantage plans. Whoever is being paid has an interest in pleasing the funder and delivering the results the funder is looking for.
Some researchers studying the relationship between diet and sleep believe that the relationship might not be between eating particular foods and a good sleep but about eating a healthy diet and a good night’s sleep.
Some researchers have found that eating a diet rich in carbohydrates can help people fall asleep more quickly than if they eat a high fat or high protein diet. In this case, the kind of carbohydrates could affect sleep. People who eat a lot of white bread and pasta tend not to sleep soundly through the night. To sleep soundly, you want to eat complex carbohydrates with fiber, which can keep your blood-sugar level stable.
Researchers recommend a Mediterranean diet for sound sleep.
All this said, researchers also believe that people who sleep poorly are often hungrier than people who sleep soundly. And, they might be more inclined to eat an unhealthy diet, including lots of sugary and processed foods.
There’s more. Researchers have found that people who sleep well often have greater will power not to eat junk food. So, if you want to sleep well, try eating a healthy diet. And, if you eat a healthy diet, you might find that you sleep better. For sure, the research is not definitive, but what’s there to lose?
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